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Man arrested for arson after fire at North Austin used car dealership

The incident happened at 8545 N. Lamar Blvd., according to the Austin Fire Department.

AUSTIN, Texas — A man was arrested for arson after a fire at a used car dealership in North Austin on Sunday morning.

The Austin Fire Department (AFD) said Monday that fire investigators arrested Hector Anthony Rodriguez, 52, in connection with the fire.

The incident happened at 8545 N. Lamar Blvd., according to the AFD. The address is the building of San Fernando Motors Inc., a used car dealership. An arrest affidavit said the Austin Police Department (APD) responded to the address at approximately 4:14 a.m. Sunday for reports of glass breaking. Officers got to the scene, found the dealership on fire and asked for assistance from the AFD.

Officers found Rodriguez alone in the parking lot and Rodriguez told them he was lost, the affidavit said. When officers asked Rodriguez about the fire specifically, Rodriguez admitted to starting the fire. He told officers that he used gas in a plastic water bottle and a lighter to start the fire, according to the arrest affidavit.

The fire caused an estimated $112,500 of damages.

Rodriguez has been charged with Felony 2 Arson of a Building, punishable of two to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.

No other information is available at this time.

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